J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

6 militants among 8 killed in J&K
Jammu, January 22
Security forces have killed four terrorists in a nearly seven-hour gunbattle in the Mahore area of Udhampur district. A BSF officer said here today that the gun-battle started yesterday when the security forces raided a terrorists hideout in the forest.

Cold wave affects campaigning for MC poll
Jammu, January 22
Icy winds, rain and snow in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir have affected the ongoing campaign for the ensuing elections to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations and other urban local bodies.

Shelling trivial, says Gen Vij
Jammu, January 22
The Army Chief, Gen N.C. Vij, today described the incidents of shelling on Indian positions in the Poonch and Rajouri sectors from the Pakistani side as of “trivial nature” and said the cause of the incidents would have to be assessed.

6 militants among 8 killed in J&K
Tribune News Service and Agencies

Jammu, January 22
Security forces have killed four terrorists in a nearly seven-hour gunbattle in the Mahore area of Udhampur district. A BSF officer said here today that the gun-battle started yesterday when the security forces raided a terrorists hideout in the forest.

The BSF launched a combing operation in the area following intelligence reports that the terrorists were hiding there. Three terrorists were killed in exchange of fire, while the fourth was shot in a cave where he was hiding.

In a pre-dawn operation, Army troops today killed two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants who were trying to infiltrate into Poonch district from across the Line of Control, defence sources said.

Five or six militants were trying to cross over to the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir when alert troops intercepted them near the Poonch nullah forward post.

The militants came close to the border fencing and tried to cut it. An alarm was sounded, followed by an encounter, in which the two ultras were killed.

Other militants managed to escape towards the Pakistani side.

Two AK rifles, 13 magazines, seven grenades and some explosive material were recovered from the ultras.

Srinagar: Militants shot dead two persons while security forces recovered 20 kg of explosives, in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said on Saturday.

Militants shot dead Ghulam Qadir Wani, a former militant, at Sopore in Baramula district on Saturday morning. Another person, Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, was shot dead at Larnoo in south Kashmir district of Anantnag on Friday evening.

Security forces busted a militant hideout and recovered 20 kg of explosives, at Baramulla during a search operation. No one was apprehended in this connection.

Acting on specific information, security forces apprehended two militants of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen from a hideout at Meemander in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.

Cold wave affects campaigning for MC poll
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 22
Icy winds, rain and snow in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir have affected the ongoing campaign for the ensuing elections to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations and other urban local bodies.

During the last two days candidates and their supporters have been forced to remain indoors due to the severe cold wave that has gripped the entire state.

Occasionally cars and threewheelers, fitted with loudspeakers, are seen making appeals to the voters.

At a number of places in Jammu and Srinagar contesting parties had put up banners and buntings but most of them have been swept away by the heavy rain and snow.

In fact three days ago the electioneering for 71 seats in Jammu Municipal Corporation and 68 seats in Srinagar had picked up with leaders of various political parties organising corner meetings. But the cold weather has dampened the interest of voters and the poll managers.

Despite a call for boycott by the separatists, a large number of candidates are in the fray. In Jammu there are 537 candidates in the field for 71 wards and in Srinagar the number if 217. Even in militancy-infested Kupwara district 86 candidates are in the field for 25 wards.

While the BJP is contesting the elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal (Badal) in Jammu, the National Conference has decided to fight alone. The ruling PDP-Congress alliance has failed to have reach an electoral understanding for the civic poll.

Though at least on 30 per cent seats the two have avoided a direct contest but on the rest of the seats in Jammu and Srinagar both PDP and the Congress have fielded their candidates.

Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Urban Development, said, “The friendly contest between the PDP and the Congress candidates will not affect the functioning the longevity of the coalition government.”

Shelling trivial, says Gen Vij
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 22
The Army Chief, Gen N.C. Vij, today described the incidents of shelling on Indian positions in the Poonch and Rajouri sectors from the Pakistani side as of “trivial nature” and said the cause of the incidents would have to be assessed.

The Army Chief, who due to bad weather was unable to fly to the border to make a spot assessment of the situation, denied that the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) was changing due to firing from Pakistan on two consecutive days, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He told reporters that we had to wait and watch, as no seasoned soldier would retaliate to such small firing.

The Army Chief said the Army would not draw any conclusion in haste as these incidents had to be analysed to see whether these were some local act or part of any design of a terrorist action.

He said the ceasefire was in force and both sides must respect it.

The first violation during he 13-month ceasefire between the two countries was reported on Tuesday, when 12 mortar shells were fired at an Indian picket in the poonch sector. Mortar shells were again fired from across the LoC in Rajouri sector.

Replying to a question on incidents of infiltration of terrorists, Gen Vij said that attempts were being made by the ultras to cross the border, but the success rate was negligible.